Spare tire holder



July 14, 1953 H. DE BORD SPARE TIRE HOLDER Filed May a, 195o rt-l 7 /L' |714 arf u 334/' l 4 /fw/ /4 i /6 l5r f /fa agg@ HW@ a B V972 wif/m55 MM a. ZM

Patented July 14, 1:1953

Harry De Bord, Winterset, Iowa Application May 8, 1950, Serial No. 160,620 Y My invention relates to a device for holding the spare wheel and tire on a vehicle and is more particularly adapted for use on commercial vehicles where the spare tire holder is generally secured to the underside of the vehicle frame.

The type of spare tire holder on trucks, semi-V trailers and the like that is mounted beneath the frame usually consists of a frame or brackets into and out of which the sparetire is placed or removed by manually supporting or lifting of i the wheel and tire. Many spare tires carried in this manner are obviouslylarge and heavy and their removal from the holder andA the replac'e-4 ment therein of the tire removed from the vehicle often poses a -diiiicult task that frequently requires the need for two men. C'are must be exercised in removing and replacing these large tires in the spare tire holder lest the tire fall and injure someone. On some types of lholders it is necessary for one personto lie on the ground and support the tire as the brackets are being loosened and in mounting a, tire in such a holder it requires generally two persons to lift it into the holder where one person supports it while the other tightens the brackets. The weight of these large tires makes this a diicult job and one slip can cause considerable injury to one or both` semi-trailer or the like and having a. spare tire` supporting frame portion hingeably secured to the upper frame with a lever handle adjustable as to length whereby one Iperson can easily remove a spare tire from the tire holder or mount it therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a spare tire holder of the above class that can be adjusted to `carry tires of diiierent sizes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a holder for spare tires having the char- I acteristics above described that doesV not require the use, of any tools when removing a tire therep from or mounting one therein.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spare tire holder affording the above recited advantages that is economical in manufacture and durable in construction.

,These and other objects will be apparent `to` those skilled in the art.

7 Claims. (Cl. 224-4222) My invention consists in the construction, ar-

p rangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of my device with the broken lines at the right representing a spare tire and the broken lines at the left indicating the adjustability of the lever handle,

Fig. 2 is -a side view of this spare tire holder` taken from the line 2-2 of Fig. l with the broken lines indicating the tire supporting portion in diierent position,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of this device taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is a front fragmentary center View of this device taken from the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings my invention embodies the use of a rectangular metal upper frame consisting of the side members IIJ and II that are each channel shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 3, a front bar member I2 and a like bar member (not shown) at the rearwardly end of the frame. A tire holding bar I3 extends transversely between the frame sides I0 and II and secured to the underside thereof at a point between the longitudinal center of the sides and their rearwardly ends as shown in Fig. 1. upper frame is secured in horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2 to the underside ofthe frame on a truck, semi-trailer or the like in any suitable manner and at any suitable place thereon.

The numeral I4 designates a pair of like bracket members oppositely disposed and secured within the channel portions of the respective frame sides I0 and II near the rearwardly end i thereof as shown in Fig. 3, and to the lower end of each `of these brackets there is anL-bo-lt I5 vertically adjustably secured. The upper ends of each of the bolts I5 are threaded as at I6 to receive the nuts I'I as shown in Fig. 3 which serves `,as a means to vertically adjust the bolts in the of the bar members I8 and I9 and is rigidly secured thereto as shown in Fig. 1. This bar is so positioned that the rearwardly ends of the frame This and then continuing substantiallysides I8 and I9 extend rearwardly therefrom. These extensions are each apertured and are vertically hingeably mounted respectively on the lower end of the L-bolts I5 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. At a point approximately midway between the bend points 20 and 2l a stop bar 23 extends between the Y-frame. sides I8 and I9 and is rigidly secured thereto.

On the forward portion of the Y-frame where the sides I.8 and I9A are in parallel spaced relation I have'lsecureda top-portion 24 and abottom portion 25 between the top and bottom respectively of the sides I8 and I9 to provide the rectangular enclosed frame portion extendingv from the bend points 20 forwardly toward but not to the forward ends of the frame sides Illiand` I9. A. guide bar 26 joins the top forward ends of the Y-frame sides I8 and I9 to createthespace 2l that is framed on two sides by the sides I8 and I9, on the rear by the forward edges of the top 24 and bottom25 and on thefront by theguide bar 26 as shown inFigs. l and 2.

A support bar 28v that isintegral with` the top 24 extends rearwardly therefrom to the angle iron bar 22 and is secured thereto. A section of this bar 28 has the elevated portion 29 as shown in Fig. 2. Secured' within the enclosed portion on the forwardly section ofthe Y-frame is a spring loaded` latch 3.0. that normally eX- tends into the opening 2.1 and ,can be withdrawn therefrom by means of .the manually operated control bar 3l which is slidable in the slot 32 in the frame side I9. YThis is-a one-way latch which automatically yields to .pressure from above but` cannot be released by. pressure from below without movement of the control bar 3l.

The numeral 33 designates alever lifting arm or handle that is formed from a length` of bar material which is bent at its center so that the resulting two lengthportions extend in` substantially parallel spaced relation as. shown in Fig. 1. This arm is slidably mounted through the enclosed portion at the front of the Y-'frame and the edges of the free ends thereof are embraced by a U-plate 34 that has a downwardly extending integral lip 35. Thus mounted this lever handlecan be extended forwardly of both the upper and lower frames as indicated` by the broken lines in Fig. l and serves in effect as an extension of the lower Y-frame to provide a greater leverage .meansat times for lowering and raising the same in relation tothe upper frame. In extending this arm to the front the lip 35 will engage the stop bar-23 tolimit its forward movement and when moved rearwardly, the plate will engage one side of the angle iron bar 22 which servesas afstop means to-limit its movement to the rear. A link chainv or the like 36 is secured at one end to the forwardly U-portion of the lever lifting arm and itsy other end is designed to be secured to .the control bar 3| at times by means of a-lock 31- or thelike.

Extending downwardly from the central portion of the front bar I2 on` the upper frame is the latch receiving arm 38. This latch arm is provided with a plurality of openings 3,9 invertical spaced relationship so that the distance betweenthe lower end ofgthis latcharm and the frame bar I2 can be selectively Variedby securing the arm 38 to the bar `I2 attimesthrough different openings 39 by means of the bolts and nuts `40. This latch receiving arm is positioned so that'when the forward ends of the two frames are moved towards each other it will extend into the vspace 21 and automatically become interlines in Fig. -2.

4 locked with the latch 30. The numeral 4I designates a spare tire and wheel resting on the diverging arms of the Y-frame so that the elevated portion 29 of the support bar 28 extends between diametrically opposite points on the periphery of the rim carrying the spare tire.

In operation the upper frame is secured to the underside of a truck frame or other like vehicle. The lower Y-shaped frame being hingedly mounted-to, the upper'frame can be dropped downwardly by releasing-the latch 30 which is accomplished by manually moving the control bar 3| to the rear. When this is done the Y- frame will be in position as shown by broken If a tire is in this holder when the Y:-frame is released, the lever arm can be extended forwardly so that one person holding the lever can Vease the frame downwardly so as not'tovdump the tire which might injure him if it dropped loose. The tire is merely rested on the dix/erging armsor sides of the .Y-,frameand the elevated portion29 of the .support bar 28 which .extends betweenopposite points .on the periphery of the rim. serve asa stop .means to prevent the tirer from sliding when it. isbeing lowered orraised. Once the Y-frame islowered, one` person canthen maneuver. it off of the'holder. In placing .a tire-on theholder., the,.procedur,e outlined `is merely reversed, that'is .with the .Y- frame down, av tire vcan be slid. .intoljposition if it istoo heavytoliftand thenlbymeans .of

the extendedV leverarfm, one person canelevate the Y-frame. to the, point, where. thellatch, arm and one way latch. automatically becomeinter.- locked. Thus, locked,y the; YYfframe .cannot be moved. without releasing the. latch, by .meansof the control bar.` By. means .of `the link. chainand lock; as described,.the,lever arm. is preventedV from extending while the, vehicleis motion andthe control;bar3,l is held4 against .rearwardly movement. so that the 'holder is locked. and. the

tire cannot be removed. vi/Then the -Y-frameis raised with a tire .onj it.the tire .holding bar. I3 on the upper frameV will4 engage thev tire .s0 that the tire is tightly. held between the two frames by frictional. contact. As pointed. out in the Aspecification `the. bolts 4ligand. latch arm 438 areV vertically adjustable andthis makes, it possible to adjust this-holderI toV carry tires. of ,different sizes. It is pointedV out-that thisV spare tire holder when constructed` as `described will securely hold the tire in place and the tirefcan be quicklyy and emily removed therefrom, or placed therein without the ineedY for any. tool.

`Some changes may bemade: inthe construe,- tion and arrangement of mypspare itire; holder without` departing from. the. reali spirit and;` purpose of.my .invention,..and.itzis my'intention tor cover by my: claims, any rnodiiied: formsV of. structure or `use of mechanical equivalentsl which Vmay be Areasonably `included' within -their scope.

I claim:

l. In-a spare tirefholder, a rectangular frame member, a Y-shapedframehaving-its diverging end portions hingedl'y vertically adjustablyse-- cured at oppositepoints at-one end-of-said reetangular framemember, a bar-member-extending transversely between twoopposite sidesofA said'rectangular frame, a-bar memberextending transversely betweensthediverging'arms ofv said Y-frame in-the same direction as-said1rstmen tioned bar member, a one way springV loaded latch =on the Vend of said: Y-frameopposite its hinged end, a'latch receiving-arm vertically-adjustably secured to said-rectangular frame-memaccessesber at a point .where itis'capable of, ;becoming interlocked with said.latch,:at timed means for manually releasing said latch from engagement with said latch' receiving arm, an elongated lever lifting arm slidably mounted on said Y-frame so as to be capable of being extended "outwardly from said Y-frame at times,stop means to limit the movement of said lever arm in one direction, a second stop means to limit `the movement of said lever arm in the opposite direction; said stop means respectively operating to limit the molvement of said lever armV in opposite directions, and a flexiblelocking means secured` at one `end to said lever arm and capable of being securedto said means for releasing "said latch whereby said latch is locked against release'and at the same time said lever arm is locked against any sliding movement.

2. In a spare tire holder, a rectangular frame member, a Y-shaped frame having its diverging end portions hingedly vertically adjustably securedat` opposite points to one end of said rectangular frame member, a bar member extending transversely between the diverging end portions of said Y-frame and secured thereto, a second bar member extending transversely between said diverging portions of said Y-frame and secured thereto in spaced relation to said first mentioned bar member, a tire supporting bar extending from the central portion of said rst mentioned bar to the intersection of said diverging portions; said tire supporting bar having an elevation portion between its ends, a bar member extending transversely between the ends of opposite sides of said rectangular frame member and secured thereto so as to extend in the same direction as said rst two mentioned bars, a one way spring loaded latch on the end of said Y-frame opposite its hinged end, a latch receiving arm vertically adjustably secured to said rectangular frame member at a point where it is capable of becoming interlocked with said latch, at times, means for manually releasing said latch from lengagement with said latch receiving arm, an elongated lever lifting arm slidably mounted on said Y-frame so as to be capable of being extended outwardly from said Y-frame at times, stop means consisting of said first mentioned bar to limit the movement of said lever arm in one direction, a second stop means consisting of said second bar to limit the movement of said lever arm in the opposite direction; said stop means respectively operating to limit the movement of l said lever arm in opposite directions, and a ilexible locking means secured at one end to said leverarm and capable of being secured to said means for releasing said latch whereby said latch 1 is locked against release and at the same time said lever arm is locked against any sliding movement.

3. In a spare tire holder, a rectangular frame member, a Y-shaped frame having its diverging end portions hingedly vertically adjustably secured at opposite points at one end of said rectangular frame member, a bar member extending transversely between two opposite sides of said rectangular frame, a bar member extending transversely between the diverging arms of said Y-frame in the same direction as said first mentioned bar member, a one way spring loaded latch on the end of said Y-frame opposite its hinged end, a latch receiving arm vertically adjustably secured to said rectangular frame member at a point where it is capable of becoming interlocked with said latch, at times, means for manually` releasing. said latchyfrom engagement" 4`.In a spare tire holder, a rectangular frame.

member, .fa Y-shaped `frame having its diverging end' portions hingedly vertically adjustably secured at opposite points at one end of said rectangul'ar frame member, a barmember extending transversely between two opposite sidessof said rectangular frame, a bar member extending transversely between-the diverging arms of said Y-frame-nthe same direction as said lirst mentioned :bar member, a latchbolt means' on the end of said Y-frame opposite its hinged end, a latch bolt receiving arm vertically adjustably secured to said rectangular frame member at a point Where it is capable of becoming interlocked with said latch, at times, means for manually releasing said latch fromengagement with said latch receiving arm, an elongated lever lifting arm slidably mounted on said Y-frame so as to be capable of being extended outwardly from said Y-frame at times, stop means to limit the movement of said lever arm in one direction, a second stop means to limit the movement of said lever arm ,in the opposite direction; said stop means respectively operating to limit the movement of said lever arm in opposite directions, and a flexible locking means secured at one end to said lever arm and capable of being secured to said means for rel leasing said latch whereby said latch is locked against release and at the same time said lever arm is locked against any sliding movement.

5. In a spare tire holder, a first frame member, a second frame member hingedly secured at one end to said first frame member, the other end of said second frame member being longitudinally extensible to provide a greater leverage means at times for lowering and raising the same in relation to said iirst frame member, a locking means on the end of said second frame member opposite its hinged end, a lock receiving arm vertically secured to said first frame member at a point where it is capable of becoming interlocked with said locking means, means for releasing said locking means from engagement with said lock receiving arm, and a second locking means capable of holding said iirst mentioned locking means against accidental release and at the same time preventing any longitudinal movement of the extensible end of said second frame member.

6. In a spare tire holder, a first frame member, a second frame member hingedly vertically adjustably secured at one end to said first frame member, the other end of said second frame member being longitudinally extensible to provide a greater leverage means at times for lowering and raising the same in relation to said iirst frame member, a locking means on the end of said second frame member opposite its hinged end, a lock receiving arm vertically adjustably secured to said first frame member at a point where it is capable of becoming interlocked with said locking means, means for manually releasing said locking means from engagement with said lock receiving arm. and a iiexible locking means capable of holding said first mentioned locking:,meansiiagainstr accidental releaseland ati the'rsame ,time preventing any llongitudinal 'movementgofithe extensible'vend of :said second frame member.

, 7:. Iniaspare tirez-holder; a rst frame member, aA second` framelmember: hingedly secured: at vone end to zsaidi rst; framez member, a longitudinallyadjustable lever arm slid'ably mounted Von said, second frame-member to providean extension` therefor, a stop means'to limit the movement of said lever-arm in one direction, a `second'A stop meanstoilimitthe movement thereof in-the other. direction, a locking/means on the end of said secondframememberl opposite its hinged end, a lockrreceivingarm vertically` secured to said first' frameV member at apoint-where it is capableof becomingI interlocked with said locking means, meansfor.- releasingsaid locking means from en-` gagement with saidV lock receiving arm, and a second; locking means/capable of holding said rsty mentioned. locking, means againstr accidentalv release and at the same time preventing any jReferences Cited in the le of this patent YUNITED STATES- PATENTS Number 'Name Date 1,0 "1,349,581 Peltier Aug. 17, 1920 1,672,356'. 'Wasserfallen' June 5, 1928 1,761,916 vHebner June 3, 1930 11,813,094' .Appel July '7, 1931 11,877,887' VFulton Sept. 20, 1932 1r* 2,214,937 Ragsdale, Sept. 17, 1940 0 2249544 Ballard septal, 1948 2,547,083 'Lundgren Apr.i3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 2@ Number Countryy Date,

-643;181- France `May 10, 1928 531,648 GreatBritain Jan. 8,'1941.

HARRY'DE BORD. 

